Page 3 - July 2020 Issue

Senior in Action:
Senior in Action: Gordon Stefenhagen
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Gordon Stefenhagen
Gordon Stefenhagen A Life Enriched Through VolunteeringA Life Enriched Through Volunteering
Gordon Stefenhagen A Life Enriched Through Volunteering
Gordon Stefenhagen A Life Enriched Through VolunteeringA Life Enriched Through Volunteering
Senior in Action – Gordon Stefenhagen packed his 1970 Dodge the Year by the. County of
Charger RT and sped west,
relocating in Downey, L.A Public Library in the
Born in 1942 during World War II, 1990s. He met his wife,
Gordon grew up in Downers Grove, California. Gordon traveled Marilee when she was
Illinois. As an only child, he spent frequently and conducted Norwalk Library Manager.
considerable time with nearby cousins on business by telephone. When He says, “I checked out the
his mother’s side of the family. Card Swift expanded and asked librarian instead of the books,
games were a popular pastime in the Gordon to relocate to Texas, and never returned her.”
winter and picnic trips to area lakes, in he replied, “Thanks, but no Gordon maintains his
summer. His parents were both active thanks!”. Gordon enrolled at family ties through frequent
members of the Moose Lodge, where he Cerritos College in real estate trips to Illinois. He and
attended many fundraising dinners and classes. He took to heart the Marilee enjoy Chicago food
played pinball. Watching the Lawrence advice of his Real Estate tours, museums, and
Welk show on TV with the folks was a professor, “You know you’ve sightseeing. Gordon
weekly ritual. During his teens and 20s, made it when you are a introduced Marilee to
Gordon worked at National “T” market, million dollars in debt.” country western music, and
bagging groceries and stocking shelves. Gordon began investing in both appreciate live concerts
“My buddy and I used to go out on Friday real estate and never looked featuring their favorite
night, report to work for our early AM shift and back. country singers. Gordon and
take a quick nap on the check-out belt before our In the 1980s, Gordon Marilee share their home
supervisor arrived,” he reported. Gordon became a realtor at Norwalk with three rescue cats, and
was fascinated with cars and liked to race Realty, and moved to the City Gordon is a loyal supporter
down country roads when he could get of Norwalk. He bought a of animal rescue groups. His
away with it; perhaps because Uncle Wally home for his parents, Marge advice to seniors is: “Stay
was a DuPage County Sheriff. and Rudy; the first house they active! If you want to work part-
After graduation from Downers Grove ever owned. His friend time or full-time, do it. Or
High School in 1960, Gordon attended Lucille Colln encouraged him volunteer; there are lots of
Lyon Township Junior College for his AA, to volunteer on the City of wonderful organizations needing
then commuted by train to the downtown Norwalk Rental Mediation your talent and time. Pay
Chicago DePaul University campus for Board. Eventually, he ran for attention to what’s happening in
business classes. He graduated in 1967 a seat on Norwalk City your city.”
with a BA in Business. Gordon was faced Council and served 18 years
with the Vietnam War and a low draft as Councilmember with four
number, so he enlisted in the U.S. Army, terms as Mayor.
got a new haircut and started basic training Although he no longer
at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Fortunately, serves on Norwalk’s City
Gordon was stationed at South Korea’s Council, Gordon has not
DMZ (demilitarized zone), where he taught retired from real estate. Property Council, he’s helped raise thousands of
GIs how to pass their GED tests, rather than managers are considered “essential” dollars for non-profits serving Norwalk,
being in South Vietnam. during the Covid-19 pandemic, as people and established an annual Veterans
Gordon accepted a credit department want plumbing, A/C, electricity, etc. Scholarship to financially assist Cerritos
position with Swift Fresh Meats & functioning when quarantined at home, College vets. A Friends of the Norwalk
Company after his honorable discharge and at age 78 he still works 40+ hours. Libraries member, Gordon helped raise
from the Army. His territory included Gordon continues his community funds to support library programs since
California, Oregon and Washington, so he volunteerism as well. As President of the mid 1990s, and was named Citizen of
Norwalk Community Coordinating

Social Distance Be In Charge of Your Safety

July 2020 3